TWI470406B - Casing structure for portable electronic apparatus and locking mechanism thereof - Google Patents

Description

Housing structure of portable electronic device and locking mechanism thereof

The present invention relates to a housing structure of a portable electronic device and a latching mechanism thereof, and more particularly to a housing structure of a portable electronic device having a simultaneous locking and unlocking function and a latching mechanism thereof.

Portable electronic devices, such as notebook computers, have been widely used in the daily life of the public, where the battery is an electronic component that the user often removes from the mainframe. In general, the notebook computer case is usually provided with a quick-lock structure to facilitate the user to disassemble and install the battery. However, for other electronic components that are not required to be disassembled and installed, such as a memory, the notebook case is usually only provided with a screw-mounted door cover for maintenance personnel to open to repair or replace the memory. However, in the actual replacement of the memory operation, the battery is usually removed first to avoid damage to the electronic components caused by short circuit or electrostatic discharge in the subsequent operation, and then the screw is loosened, the door is removed, and the memory can be replace. It is obvious that the current door fixing structure is not conducive to the opening of the door cover. In addition, for the entire memory maintenance and replacement work, the opening of the casing (including the removal of the battery and the door cover) is also cumbersome.

In view of the problems in the prior art, one of the objects of the present invention is to provide a latching mechanism for a portable electronic device. The latching mechanism can simultaneously lock or unlock the casing of the portable electronic device, and the user can quickly open the casing to solve the problem of the cumbersome opening operation of the casing in the prior art.

The latching mechanism of the present invention is used in a portable electronic device. The portable electronic device includes a device housing, an electronic component housing, and a door cover. The device housing has an opening, and the electronic component housing A detachable manner engages the device housing, the door cover engaging the device housing in an openable manner to cover the opening. The latching mechanism includes a first latching structure, a second latching structure, an operating portion, a third latching structure and a fourth latching structure. The first latching structure is disposed on the electronic component housing, the second latching structure is disposed on the door cover, the operating portion is disposed on the device housing, and the third latching structure is coupled to the operating portion And engaging with the first latch structure, the fourth latch structure is coupled to the operating portion and can be engaged with the second latch structure. Wherein when the door cover is coupled to the device housing and covers the opening and the electronic component housing is engageable with the device housing, the operating portion can be operated to make the third latch structure and the fourth latch structure Simultaneously engaging with the first latch structure and the second latch structure to lock the door cover and the electronic component housing, or simultaneously detach from the first latch structure and the second latch structure to unlock the Door cover and the electronic component housing. Therefore, the user can operate the operation portion to quickly unlock and remove or open the electronic component housing and the door cover to perform component repair or replacement operations on the portable electronic device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a housing structure for a portable electronic device, which includes the latching mechanism of the present invention. Therefore, the housing structure also has a housing that simultaneously latches or unlocks the portable electronic device. The function can quickly open the casing to solve the problem of the cumbersome opening operation of the casing in the prior art.

The housing structure of the present invention comprises a device housing, an electronic component housing, a door cover, a first latching structure, a second latching structure, an operating portion, a third latching structure and a fourth card Lock structure. The device housing has an accommodating space and an opening that communicates with the accommodating space. The electronic component housing is coupled to the device housing in a detachable manner. The door cover engages the device housing in an openable manner to cover the opening. The first latch structure is disposed on the electronic component housing. The second latch structure is disposed on the door cover. The operating portion is disposed on the device housing. The third latching structure is coupled to the operating portion and engageable with the first latching structure. The fourth latching structure is coupled to the operating portion and engageable with the second latching structure. Wherein, when the door cover is coupled to the device housing and covers the opening and the electronic component housing is engageable with the device housing, the operating portion can be operated to cause the third latch structure and the fourth latch The structure is respectively engaged with the first latch structure and the second latch structure to lock the door cover and the electronic component housing, or simultaneously detach from the first latch structure and the second latch structure to unlock The door cover and the electronic component housing. Similarly, the user can operate the operating portion to quickly unlock and remove or open the electronic component housing (such as the battery module housing) and the door cover to perform the portable electronic device. Component repair or replacement work.

The advantages and spirit of the present invention will be further understood from the following detailed description of the invention.

Please refer to FIG. 1 , which is a bottom view of a housing structure 1 of a portable electronic device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the portable electronic device is a notebook computer, and the housing structure 1 is the main body casing of the notebook computer, but the invention is not limited thereto. In the present embodiment, the housing structure 1 includes a device housing 12, an electronic component housing 14, a door cover 16 and a latching mechanism 18, wherein the portion of the latching mechanism 18 that is shielded by the device housing 12 is depicted by a dotted line. Shown in the picture.

Please refer to FIG. 2, which is a schematic view of the electronic component housing 14 and the door cover 16 in the housing structure 1. The device housing 12 has an accommodating space 122 and an opening 124 connecting the accommodating spaces 122. The electronic component housing 14 is coupled to the device housing 12 in a detachable manner. In this embodiment, the electronic component housing 14 is a battery module of the notebook computer, and a battery 142 is disposed therein (shown by thick dashed lines); in practice, for example, the other has a housing connected to the device housing 12 The removable device of the body may also be, but the invention is not limited thereto. The door cover 16 engages the device housing 12 in an openable manner to cover the opening 124. When the door cover 16 is opened, the internal electronic component 2 can be seen through the opening 124. For example, the memory 2 is disposed in the accommodating space 122. In practical applications, the internal electronic component 2 can also be other electronic components, such as a lithium battery, a communication module, an antenna connection cable, or even a CPU. The present invention is not limited thereto.

The latching mechanism 18 includes a first latching structure 182, a second latching structure 184, an operating portion 186, a third latching structure 188, a fourth latching structure 190, and a return spring 192. The first latching structure 182 is disposed on the electronic component housing 14, the second latching structure 184 is disposed on the door cover 16, and the operating portion 186 is disposed on the device housing 12 to be slidable relative to the device housing 12, the third card The locking structure 188 is coupled to the operating portion 186 and engages with the first latching structure 182. The fourth latching structure 190 is coupled to the operating portion 186 and engages with the second latching structure 184. The return spring 192 abuts between the operating portion 186 and one of the ribs 126 of the device housing 12 to urge the operating portion 186 back to the locked position.

Please refer to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, FIG. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the housing structure 1 along line XX of FIG. 1, wherein the simplified structure, the internal structure of the electronic component housing 14 (including the battery 142) 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the housing structure 1 along the line YY of FIG. 1 , wherein for the simplified drawing, only the configuration of the door cover 16 , the latch mechanism 18 and the device housing 12 are illustrated. relationship. In this embodiment, the first latch structure 182 is a first card slot, the second latch structure 184 is a second card slot, and the third latch structure 188 is a first latch, and the fourth latch structure The 190 is a second latch that can be inserted into the first slot, and the second latch can be inserted into the second slot.

In this embodiment, the first card slot extends in a first direction D1, and the electronic component housing 14 is coupled or disengaged from the device housing 12 parallel to a second direction D2. The second direction D2 is perpendicular to the first direction D1. . Therefore, after the first card latch is inserted into the first card slot, the electronic component housing 14 can be effectively prevented from being detached from the device housing 12. In addition, the front end of the first latch has a slope 1882. When the electronic component housing 14 is engaged with the device housing 12 in the second direction D2, the electronic component housing 14 can push the slope 1882 to make the first card. The latch is retracted; when the electronic component housing 14 is moved to the locked position, the first latch is inserted into the first slot by the elastic force of the return spring 192 to complete the electronic component housing 14 and the device housing 12. Connect. However, the present invention is not limited to having a slope 1882 at the front end of the first latch.

In addition, the second card slot extends in a third direction D3, and the door cover 16 is engaged or disengaged from the device housing 12 parallel to a fourth direction D4, and the fourth direction D4 is perpendicular to the third direction D3. Therefore, after the second latch is inserted into the second slot, the door cover 16 can be effectively prevented from being detached from the device housing 12. In addition, in the connection between the actual door cover 16 and the device housing 12, the door cover 16 firstly engages the three card slots 1242 of the device housing 12 at the edge of the opening 124 with its three latches 162, and then revolves the door. Cover 16 to completely cover opening 124. Therefore, in fact, the second card slot approaches the second latch in a circular path, and when the second slot is in close proximity to the second latch, the moving direction of the second slot can still be regarded as vertical. In the direction of the third direction D3, for convenience of description, in the present embodiment, the fourth direction D4 is still used as the direction in which the door cover 16 is engaged with the device casing 12. In addition, the front end of the second latch also has a slope 1902. When the door cover 16 is engaged with the device housing 12 in the fourth direction D4, the second latch structure 184 can push the slope 1902 to retract the second latch. After the door cover 16 completely covers the opening 124, the second latch is inserted into the second slot by the elastic force of the return spring 192 to complete the engagement of the door cover 16 with the device housing 12. However, the present invention does not limit the front end of the second latch to a slope 1902.

It should be noted that, in the embodiment, the third direction D3 is the same as the first direction D1. Therefore, the operation portion 186 can be designed to move parallel to the first direction D1, simplifying the mechanism design. Moreover, in the embodiment, the fourth direction D4 is perpendicular to the second direction D2. This is because the general design of the notebook computer, the insertion direction of the battery module is mostly the side, but the invention is not limited thereto. In addition, there is a gap between the second latch and the device housing 12. In practice, the second latch can be brought close to the device housing 12 to enhance the engagement of the second latch with the second slot. strength. It is to be noted that, in practice, the latching mechanism of the battery module is symmetrically disposed. In the embodiment, the housing structure 1 includes another latching mechanism 19 with respect to the latching mechanism 18 for The electronic component housing 14 is latched. In practice, if the door cover 16 covers the area and is adjacent to the latch mechanism 19, the latch mechanism 19 can also lock the door cover 16 at the same time as the latch mechanism 18.

As described above, based on the latch mechanism feature of the present invention, when the door cover 16 is engaged to the device housing 12 and covers the opening 124 and the electronic component housing 14 is engaged with the device housing 12, the operating portion 186 can be operated to enable The three latch structure 188 and the fourth latch structure 190 are respectively engaged with the first latch structure 182 and the second latch structure 184 to lock the door cover 16 and the electronic component housing 14; when the door cover 16 and the electronic component shell When the body 14 has been locked by the latching mechanism 18, the operating portion 186 can also be operated to simultaneously disengage the third latching structure 188 and the fourth latching structure 190 from the first latching structure 182 and the second latching structure 184. To unlock the door cover 16 and the electronic component housing 14. After being unlocked, the user can remove the electronic component housing 14 and the door cover 16 and repair or replace the internal electronic component 2 disposed in the accommodating space 122. In other words, the user can only operate the operating portion 186, that is, simultaneously unlock the connection between the two components and the device housing 12, which is effective and time-saving, and solves the problem of the cumbersome opening operation of the housing in the prior art.

In the foregoing embodiment, the second card slot is a hole, but the invention is not limited thereto. Please refer to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 , FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the housing structure 3 according to an embodiment, and FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the housing structure along line ZZ of FIG. 5 , which is also a simplified diagram. Only the arrangement relationship of the door cover 36, the latch mechanism 38 and the device housing 32 is shown. The housing structure 3 of the present embodiment is substantially the same as the structure of the housing structure 1. The main difference is that the door cover 36 has a surface 362. When the door cover 36 is engaged with the device housing 32, the surface 362 is exposed, and the locking mechanism is The second latching structure 384 of 38 is a card slot formed on the surface 362. In practice, a stepped structure is formed on the surface 362. The fourth latching structure 390 is exposed to the device housing 32 and can be slid on the device housing 32. Similarly, when the fourth latching structure 390 slides into the second latching structure 384, the fourth latching structure 390 is also prevented from being self-assembling. The function of the body 32 to detach. Therefore, the user can also operate the operating portion 386 to engage or disengage the fourth latching structure 390 from the second latching structure 384. It should be noted that, in practice, the first latching structure 382 and the third latching structure 388 of the latching mechanism 38 are also designed to be connected to the second latching structure 384 and the fourth latching structure 390. Narration.

Please refer to FIG. 7, which is a bottom view of the housing structure 5 according to another embodiment. The housing structure 5 is substantially the same as the structure of the housing structure 1. The main difference is that in the latching mechanism 58, the fourth latching structure 590 has three latches 590a, 590b, 590c, and the second latching structure 584 has corresponding The three card slots 584a, 584b, and 584c have three engaging structures between the second latching structure 584 and the fourth latching structure 590, which can further increase the joint strength between the door cover 56 and the device housing 52.

In the foregoing embodiment, the latching mechanism is linearly actuated to achieve the mechanism of latching and unlocking, but the invention is not limited thereto. Please refer to Fig. 8, which is a bottom plan view of a housing structure 7 in accordance with another embodiment. The housing structure 7 differs primarily from the previously described housing structure 1 in that the latching mechanism 78 is rotated. Further, the third latching structure 788 and the fourth latching structure 790 of the latching mechanism 78 are respectively an L-shaped latch connected to the circular operating portion 786, and the operating portion 786 is rotatably disposed on the device. The first latching structure 782 and the second latching structure 784 are still designed as card slots, and are respectively disposed on the electronic component housing 74 and the door cover 76 for the latch insertion. Thereby, the user can rotate the operating portion 786 counterclockwise to rotate the third latching structure 788 and the fourth latching structure 790 together with the operating portion 786 to engage with the first latching structure 782 and the second latching structure 784, respectively. The latching door cover 76 and the electronic component housing 74 can also rotate the operating portion 786 clockwise to rotate the third latching structure 788 and the fourth latching structure 790 together with the operating portion 786 to respectively from the first latching structure 782. The second latching structure 784 is simultaneously disengaged to unlock the door cover 76 and the electronic component housing 74. It should be noted that, in this embodiment, the latch mechanism 78 is further provided with a return spring 792 (shown in FIG. 8 with a thick broken line), and the tensile deformation is generated by the tensile deformation, which is different from the latch mechanism 18 . The return spring 192 generates a return spring force by compression deformation; however, in practice, the return spring only needs to provide an elastic force, and the present invention is not limited to the use of tension or compression to generate an elastic force.

As described above, the latch mechanism of the present invention can lock or unlock two housings (such as the removable battery module housing and the base door cover) that are connected to the device housing at one time, so that the user can quickly disassemble Battery module housing and door cover for safely housing the device The components inside are repaired and replaced. In the conventional technology, the maintenance of internal electronic components faces the problem of cumbersome opening operation of the casing. In addition, since the latch mechanism of the present invention can lock or unlock the two housings that are coupled to the device housing at a time, it also contributes to the number of latching mechanisms of the entire housing structure.

The above are only the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and all changes and modifications made to the scope of the present invention should be within the scope of the present invention.

1, 3, 5, 7‧‧‧ shell structure

2‧‧‧Internal electronic components

12, 32, 52, 72‧‧‧ device housing

14, 74‧‧‧ Electronic component housing

16, 36, 56, 76‧‧ ‧ door cover

18, 19, 38, 58, 78‧‧‧ lock mechanism

122‧‧‧ accommodating space

124‧‧‧ openings

126‧‧ ‧ ribs

142‧‧‧Battery

162‧‧‧Carmen

182, 382, 782‧‧‧ first card lock structure

184, 384, 584, 784‧‧‧ second card lock structure

186, 386, 786‧ ‧ Operation Department

188, 388, 788‧‧‧ third card lock structure

190, 390, 590, 790‧‧‧ fourth card lock structure

192, 792‧‧‧Return spring

362‧‧‧ surface

584a, 584b, 584c‧‧‧ card slot

590a, 590b, 590c‧‧‧ latch

1242‧‧‧ card slot

1882‧‧‧Bevel

1902‧‧‧Bevel

D1‧‧‧ first direction

D2‧‧‧ second direction

D3‧‧‧ third direction

D4‧‧‧ fourth direction

1 is a bottom plan view of a housing structure of a portable electronic device in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the electronic component housing and the door cover removed from the housing structure.

Figure 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the housing structure taken along line X-X in Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the housing structure taken along line Y-Y in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of a housing structure in accordance with an embodiment.

Figure 6 is a partial cross-sectional view of the housing structure along line Z-Z in Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a bottom plan view of a housing structure in accordance with another embodiment.

Figure 8 is a bottom plan view of a housing structure in accordance with another embodiment.

1. . . Shell structure

12. . . Device housing

14. . . Electronic component housing

16. . . Door cover

18, 19. . . Lock mechanism

182. . . First latch structure

184. . . Second latch structure

186. . . Operation department

188. . . Third card lock structure

190. . . Fourth card lock structure

192. . . Return spring

Claims (15)

A latching mechanism for a portable electronic device, the portable electronic device comprising a device housing, an electronic component housing and a door cover, the device housing having an opening, the electronic component housing Removably engaging with the device housing, the door cover is coupled to the device housing to cover the opening in an openable manner, the latching mechanism comprising: a first latching structure disposed on the electronic component housing a second latching structure disposed on the door cover; an operating portion rotatably disposed on the device housing; a third latching structure coupled to the operating portion and capable of a first latching structure engaging; and a fourth latching structure coupled to the operating portion and engageable with the second latching structure; wherein the door is coupled to the device housing and covers the opening and the electronic When the component housing is engaged with the device housing, the operating portion is operable to rotate relative to the device housing to rotate the third latching structure and the fourth latching structure together with the operating portion to respectively One card lock structure and the second card lock structure When the adapter to latch the door and the housing of the electronic device, or from the first locking structure and the second locking structure simultaneously disengaged to unlock the door, and the electronic component housing. The latching mechanism of claim 1, wherein the first latching structure is a first card slot, the second latching structure is a second card slot, and the third latching structure is a first latching The fourth latch structure is a second latch, the first latch can be inserted into the first latch In the slot, the second latch can be inserted into the second slot, and the first latch and the second latch are respectively an L-shaped latch. The latching mechanism of claim 2, wherein the first card slot extends in a first direction, and the electronic component housing is engaged or disengaged from the device housing in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to The first direction. The latching mechanism of claim 3, wherein the second card slot extends in a third direction, the door cover engaging or disengaging the device housing parallel to a fourth direction, the fourth direction being perpendicular to the first Three directions. The latch mechanism of claim 4, wherein the fourth direction is perpendicular to the second direction. The latching mechanism of claim 2 or 4, wherein the door cover has a surface, the surface is exposed when the door cover is engaged with the device housing, and the second card slot is formed on the surface. The latching mechanism of claim 2, wherein the first card slot and the second card slot are respectively a hole. A housing structure of a portable electronic device includes: a device housing having an accommodating space and an opening communicating with the accommodating space; and an electronic component housing detachably connected to the device housing a door cover that is coupled to the device housing to cover the opening in an openable manner; a first latching structure disposed on the electronic component housing; and a second latching structure disposed on the door cover An operating portion rotatably disposed on the device housing; a third latching structure coupled to the operating portion and engageable with the first latching structure; a fourth latching structure coupled to the operating portion and engageable with the second latching structure; wherein the door cover engages the device housing and covers the opening and the electronic component housing and the device housing When engaged, the operating portion can be operated to rotate relative to the device housing to rotate the third latching structure and the fourth latching structure together with the operating portion to respectively engage the first latching structure and the second The latching structure is simultaneously engaged to latch the door cover and the electronic component housing, or simultaneously detach from the first latching structure and the second latching structure to unlock the door cover and the electronic component housing. The housing structure of claim 8, wherein the first latching structure is a first card slot, the second latching structure is a second card slot, and the third latching structure is a first card latch The fourth latch structure is a second latch, the first latch can be inserted into the first slot, the second latch can be inserted into the second slot, the first latch and The second latches are each an L-shaped latch. The housing structure of claim 9, wherein the first card slot extends in a first direction, and the electronic component housing is engaged or disengaged from the device housing in a second direction, the second direction being perpendicular to The first direction. The housing structure of claim 10, wherein the second card slot extends in a third direction, the door cover engaging or disengaging from the device housing parallel to a fourth direction, the fourth direction being perpendicular to the first Three directions. The housing structure of claim 11, wherein the fourth direction is perpendicular to the second direction. The housing structure of claim 9 or 11, wherein the door cover has a surface, the surface is exposed when the door cover is engaged with the device housing, and the second card slot is formed in the On the surface. The housing structure of claim 9, wherein the first card slot and the second card slot are respectively a hole. The housing structure of claim 8, wherein the electronic component housing houses a battery.